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Every home is unique

When a home is sold, a willing seller and a willing buyer have just announced to the world the value of that home. From there, other similar homes are benchmarked, but other factors come into play.

Location

The closer a home is to jobs, parks, transportation, schools, and community services, the more desirable it is.

Size

Square footage impacts home values because they’re built using more materials. Larger lot sizes mean more privacy.

Number of bedrooms/baths

Over time, median homes have grown larger. Decades ago, household members shared bedrooms and baths without complaint, but today, families want more privacy. The median home purchased today is a three-bedroom, two-bath home.

Features and finishes

Features such as outdoor kitchens and spa baths make a home more luxurious.

Condition

The closer a home is to new construction, the more it will retain its value. It’s perceived as more modern, up to date, safer.

Curb appeal

From the street, the homes look clean, fresh, and inviting with pleasant paint colors.

Features that Sell

According to the National Association of REALTORS® latest profile of homebuyers and sellers, buyers plan to occupy their homes for the next 10 years. They want homes that offer the room, flexibility and comfort they anticipate they will need for a long time. Over three out of four buyers chose a detached home, while attached homes were favored by single homebuyers and buyers without children.

Buyers Today

The median-sized existing home purchased in 2010 was built in 1990, with 1,780 square feet, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Size mattered most, while the home's condition came in a close second.  They're also carefully considered commuting costs to jobs, schools and other destinations. Overall, they’re buying smaller homes closer to the inner city.

Must Have Features:

  1. •A walk-in closet - master bedroom

  2. •Separate tub/shower - master bath

  3. •A separate laundry room

  4. •Ceiling fans • First-floor master

  5. •Two-car garage

  6. •Insulated front door

  7. •9-foot ceilings on first level

Buyers want homes that are sustainable and affordable, more than homes that are impressive to others. For that reason, builders predict that homes of the future will continue to be smaller and more energy-efficient, with better space-planning, storage and utility.

First Impressions

Most buyers form their first impression of your home before they even get out of their cars.

The exterior of your home must be in pristine condition, freshly painted, cleared of clutter, with no visible repairs needed. A broken step, overgrown bush, or abandoned toys in the yard can spoil the appearance and your buyer’s first impression.

Walkways/Driveways

Make sure walkways are clear of snow, weeds, or debris. Repair or replace cracked steps or pavers. Driveways should also be clear of vehicles, toys and debris. Park cars in the garage.

Landscaping

Keep your lawn mowed, edged and watered. Prune dead branches and plants. Weed flower beds and replace thin landscaping with fresh plants and flowers.

Exterior

Replace loose or damaged roof shingles, clean the gutters, and paint and caulk window trim and doors. Repaint the front door an eye-catching color that complements the rest of the exterior. Replace broken windows.

Entry

Power wash siding, brick, windows, and porches. Paint or replace furniture such as rocking chairs or porch swings. Replace mailboxes, light fixtures, door knobs or any other fixture that looks less than fresh. Put out a welcoming new floor mat.

Your best chance of selling your home is in the first two weeks of marketing. Your home is fresh and exciting to buyers and to their agents.

With a sign in the yard, a description in the local Multiple Listing Service, distribution across the Internet, open houses, broker’s caravan, ads, and email blasts to our buyers, your home will get the greatest flurry of attention and interest in the first two weeks.

If you don’t get many showings or offers, you’ve probably overpriced your home, and it’s not comparing well to the competition. Since you can’t change the location, you’ll have to improve the home’s condition or lower the price.

Consult with your agent and ask for feedback. Perhaps you can do a little more to spruce up your home’s curb appeal, or perhaps stage the interior to better advantage.

The market can always change its mind and give your home another chance, but by then you’ve lost precious time and perhaps allowed a stigma to cloud your home’s value.

Intelligent pricing isn’t about getting the most for your home – it’s about getting your home sold quickly at fair market value. 

904-463-0292

The Seller’s Total Resource Network

In a neighborhood of similar homes, why is one worth more than another?

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11512 Lake Mead Ave. #701  Jacksonville, FL 32256  • office 904-881-2178

(904) 463-0292